Mastering Social Media for Schools

My APR friends are going to be so geeked out to listen to this episode! My friend Angela Brown is diving into the research that can help school communicators do their job more effectively!

IN THIS EPISODE, ANGELA SHARES:

• The many ways Niche can help K12 schools (beyond just the school ranking)
• Specific stories you should be telling on social based on parent research
• Why highlighting teachers is so critical
• Her best advice - “Don’t chase bees!” She’ll explain it in the interview.

SPECIAL GUEST

Angela Brown

K-12 Senior Enrollment Insights Leader

Niche - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Follow Angela on Twitter: @angelambrown 

Connect with Angela on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelambrown/ 

Email: [email protected] 

Website: https://www.niche.com  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nichesocial 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nichesocial/     

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Niche_Insights   

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Get access to the blog and other resources on Niche here: Enrollment Insights
• Listen to the Enrollment Insights Podcast
• Access the full research here 
• Helpful blog: Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week on Social Media!

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

Oh my goodness - we made it to episode 100!! And it’s my birthday!! Two big reasons to celebrate - and you get the gift of learning the 10 best social media tips from our listeners.

IN THIS EPISODE, LISTENERS SHARE:

• Practical ways to use more video in your social storytelling
• The importance of building a team to help you with social media
• Why you should NOT be afraid to try something new
• How this podcast can help create meaningful relationships with other School PR professionals

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Blog - Grab Followers the Moment They Enter Your School!
• Join our Bootcamp! It is now being incorporated into our Membership Program. Learn more about our membership here!
• Meet our contributors:
  • John Casper - Episode 87
  • Sadie Fischer
  • Jill Salmon
  • Amanda Keller
  • Anindita Anaam - Episode 96
  • Joanne Bell
  • Grace Scism
  • Jamie Brace - Episode 62
  • Lisa Waldhart
  • Natalie Eiting

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

Schools of every size need a person devoted to school communications, but many think they can’t afford it. Learn how John Charlton convinced his district of 2,000 students to add a new position and learn about the amazing impact he has had in just two years!

IN THIS EPISODE, JOHN SHARES:

• How he convinced his school district to add a communications position
• Why his initial focus when he got started was on internal communication with staff
• How he quadrupled the Facebook following for his district
• The best stories that his community loves to see on social media

SPECIAL GUEST

John Charlton

Communications Coordinator

Cambridge City School District, Ohio

Follow John on Twitter: @sportshack6886 

Email: [email protected] 

School Website: www.cambridgecityschools.org 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CambridgeCitySchools    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cambridge_CS     

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Story of the marine - Thompson Proves that Size Does Not Matter
• Drone piloting class story

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

Are you a one-person communications shop who struggles with managing all the things? Then you’re going to want to meet this week’s guest! Learn practical tips and systems to help you celebrate your school district with the world.

IN THIS EPISODE, STEPHANIE DISCUSSES:

• How she convinced her school district to jump into social media and the platforms she uses today to celebrate her students and staff
• The system she created to manage the various social media accounts throughout her district 
• Her best strategy to get more content for social - and it relates to setting aside one hour per week
• The importance of her MOSPRA (and NSPRA) family

SPECIAL GUEST

Stephanie Smith, APR

Director of Public Relations

Fort Osage R-1 School District, Missouri

Email: [email protected]  

Twitter: @smithsteph

School Website: https://www.fortosage.net/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FortOsageSchoolDistrict    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FortOsageSchool 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortosageschools/    

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Blog - How to Create a Social Media Directory for Your School
• Student business - check out this post
• Learn more about the NSPRA seminar this July, 2022

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

Are you struggling to find stories to share on social media right now? Or maybe you are sick of the negative comments you are receiving? Grab 14 easy social media post ideas that your community will absolutely LOVE!

IN THIS EPISODE, ANDREA SHARES:

• One easy tip sure to lead to more content from staff
• 14 ideas with sample posts linked in the show notes
• How to keep things SIMPLE for yourself (for you overthinkers out there)
• Why getting students involved will make your job easier

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Join membership here (the final day for the $300 offer is 2/14/22)
• Blog - How to Use “Batching” to Increase Productivity in Your School PR Role
• Blog - How to Find Student Stories Your Community Will Love
• Ideas

1. What students & staff love about your district
2. Therapy Dogs
3. Sports
4. Little Moments
5. Art & Tech Ed Projects
6. Homecomings/Videos
7. Staff going above and beyond
8. Classroom Activities
9. Video Invites
10. Senior Scholarships
11. Instagram Reels
12. Student Apprenticeships
13. #ThrowbackThursday
14. Student Stories

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

When the role of Communication Specialist was added to the Oconto Unified School District two years ago, they were aware of the positive potential it could have for their community. Meet Anindita, the woman who did the work and proved them right! She is a first-generation American who is really making an impact in the K12 education world.

IN THIS EPISODE, ANINDITA SHARES:

• Her diverse background which includes two masters degrees from India
• How she gathers stories from her three schools for the district’s social media platforms
• Why she focuses her time on building relationships with staff
• Which program has helped make social media easier and more effective

SPECIAL GUEST

Anindita Anaam

Communications Specialist

Oconto Unified School District, Wisconsin

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: Anindita (Andy) Neogy Anaam

School Website: https://www.oconto.k12.wi.us/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ocontoschooldistrict/    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoOconto 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ousd_schools 

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Creative writing example with IT Director
• Unique staff spotlight 
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/ 

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

To kick off 2022, I sat down with Niche’s Enrollment Insights Podcast host Angela Brown. You can catch the original podcast at this link. It was a fun conversation so I asked if I could share the interview here on my podcast!

IN THIS EPISODE, ANDREA SHARES:

• Eight resolutions for school social media managers
• The latest failures she’s had on social media
• How she stays informed on what is working best for schools
• Detailed conversations on Instagram Reels, Facebook Live, and what you should stop doing in 2022

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Blog - Don’t Go Looking for a Fight! Why Some Information Should Not Be Posted on Social Media
• Blog - How to use Instagram Reels for your School 
• Catch all of the podcast interviews from Niche at this link.

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

You can give your community a backstage pass to the great things happening in your school through a simple tool called Facebook Live! Today’s guest uses it frequently and she’s going to share her best tips and lessons learned in today’s interview.

IN THIS EPISODE, JESSICA DISCUSSES:

• How she uses Facebook Live to showcase her high school
• What equipment is helpful for streaming live
• Her pre-live checklist
• The impact that opening the walls of the school to the community can make 

SPECIAL GUEST

Jessica James

Library Media Specialist

W.S. Neal High School, Alabama

Follow Jessica on Twitter: @MrsJamesReads

Email: [email protected] 

School Website: http://w.s.nealhigh.al.ech.schoolinsites.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wsnblueeagles   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wsnealyearbook/   

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Cheerleader post
• Rode microphone
• Rode Vlogger Kit (includes: microphone, tripod stand and light) 
• Facebook Live Checklist
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/ 

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

You are the storyteller for your school district! Let that important role fuel the energy you bring to celebrating the many stories that deserve to be told. Today’s podcast is going to give you the confidence and tools to do that in 2022!

IN THIS EPISODE, TED SHARES:

• The story of the buffalo and how you can use it to help your district navigate 2022
• Why celebrating your students and staff is so important
• How to combat the “No one sends me anything” mentality when it comes to communicating for the school
• One simple tool that could change everything - the swift survey

SPECIAL GUEST

Ted Neitzke

CEO

CESA 6, Wisconsin

Follow Ted on Twitter: @tneitzke

Email: [email protected] 

School Website: https://www.cesa6.org/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CESA6/   

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CESA6    

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cesa6wi/ 

Podcast: https://thesmartthinkingpodcast.podbean.com/ 

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Ted’s podcast - The Smart Thinking Podcast
• Interested in our membership program? Learn more here: https://socialschool4edu.com/. The special rate of $300 for 6 months expires on 2/14/22!

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com

Let’s get strategic with your social media approach! In today’s interview, Karen Heath shares proven tactics to help your school celebrate the great stories happening in your school district.

IN THIS EPISODE, KAREN DISCUSSES:

• A simple method used to preplan post content twice per year
• How customer service training for your social media team can shape the interactions your school has with its followers
• Why employee appreciation is so important for her agency and for schools everywhere
• A special story that highlights the value of the programs provided for students

SPECIAL GUEST

Karen Heath

Supervisor of Communications

Berrien RESA, Michigan

Follow Karen on Twitter: @karen_heath  

Email: [email protected] 

School Website: https://www.berrienresa.org  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/berrienresa    

Twitter: https://twitter.com/berrienresa 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berrienresa/   

USEFUL INFORMATION

• Karen’s bus story - click here
• Podcast 100 Submission Notes 

MORE RESOURCES

Free Video Training: Learn the simple secrets behind social media for K12 schools!

Sign up for our free e-newsletter - click here

www.SocialSchool4EDU.com